Fastening device



Oct. 24, 1939. A. FRIDOLPH 2,176,960

' FASTENING DEVICE Filed March 7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN'I OR. v 255 9- z 14/706512? fiz doza 'quaz-ZE #2795 7a xyszer //v Hal; Y I

ATTORNEY$ 0Ct. Z4,1939. v A FR 2,176,960

FASTENING DEVICE Filed March 7, l93 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 24, 1939. ARFRIDQLPH I 2,176,960

FASTENING DEVI Filed March 7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. finnetfie 772019407) ATTORNEY6 Oct. 24,1939. A. FRIDiOLFEH 2,176,960

I FASTENING DEVICE Filed March '7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 1400675236 W'ldo/pfi ATTORNEY5.

Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED LSTATES PATENT on-"ice.

FASTENING navioa Annette Fridolph, new York. N, Y., assign'or to A.-B. A. Specialties Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York a Application March '1, 1936,- Serial No. 67,625 110mm. (-01. 24-102) This invention relates to a fastening device and more particularly to the end construction of flexible type fastening devices of the type such as used for tufting mattresses, upholstery and 8, 1931, now issued as Letters Patent No. 2,098,140.

In the use of flexible body fastening devices of the type disclosed in the above application in tufting mattresses, upholstery and the likeqmd in. other similar uses where ornamental buttons 5'are required, it has been the practice to attach the buttons to the attaching head of the fastening device by hand. Not only has this process been expensive and tedious but it has considerably limited the type and design of button that could be used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible body type of fastening device wherein the button or other ornamental element 4 and the fastening head are so designed and relatively arranged as to permit automatic assembly of the attaching head and ornamental button.

A further object has to do with the design of the button collet whereby such collet directly and resiliently receives the attaching head of the fastening device, the step of resiliently connecting the attaching head to the collet not only peculiarly lending itself to the automatic assembly, but also providing a firm connection between the attaching headand the button. I

Still other features of the invention have to do with the detailed interlocking and resilient connection between the attaching head of the fastening device and the button collet; and inasmuch as the invention lends itself to many different types, designs and arrangements of manner of tufting mattresses, upholstery and the like by the use of my fastening devices.

50, Figs. 2 and 3 are end and side elevations respectively of a fastening device with a onepiece type of. button secured thereto.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the preferred forms of button .collets, and showing par- 55 ticularly the embossed, slotted compartment for receiving the detaching head and springclip for resiliently attaching the head in position.

Fig. 5 is asectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken'online 6-6 of 5 Fig. 4 and showing both the collet and the button head therefor in relative preassenibled positions.

Figs.- '7 and 8 are perspective views of the type of button collet shownin Fig. 4 and illustrating the manner of inserting the attaching member 10 r of a fastening device and the slotted embossed portion of the collet. I

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views of modified form of button collet for resiliently receiving an attachl6 ing head of the shoe-string type.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are sectional views illustrating the manner of assembling modified collet and attaching head structure wherein the resiliency is in the attaching head instead of collet. I 1

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate a further modified form of attaching head and collet formed of two parts which parts are relatively movable to per- -mit quick assembly.

pivotally mounted on the end of the fastening de- 35 vice. I

Figs. 28 and 29 illustrate a modified form of spring collet and attaching head to be used therewith. 7

Figs. 30 and 31 illustrate the method of as 4o semblingthe attaching head to the spring type collet.

Figs. 32, 33, 34 and 35 illustrate a modified form of resilient button collet, and type of attaching head therefor and the manner of assembling the 5 same.

Figs. 36, 3'7, 38 and 39 illustrate a modified form of button collet, somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 32, and illustrating the manner of assembly. of the attaching head of the fastening device thereto. 4

Figs. 40, 41, 42 and 43 are series of figures similar to Figs. 36-39, but illustrating a further modifled-form of button collet.

Figs. 44, 45 and 46 illustrate plan and sectional views of a button collet having struck out portions adapted to clamp around the attaching head of the fastening device.

Figs. 4'7, 48 and 49 illustrate a similar collet to that shown in Fig. 4, but wherein a separate member is utilized in combination with the collet for securing the attaching head of the fastens ing device in position.

' disclosed in my copending application No. 542,799

wherein the tufting or fastening device comprises an elongated, flexible body with an enlarged fastening head formed on one or both ends thereof. As disclosed in my copending application No.

' 542,799, the use of such a tufting or fastening device greatly accelerates, simplifies and cheapens the standard tufting operation.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide an ornamental head or button collet which is simple, compact and strong in construction and which lends itself to the quick automatic assembly of the ornamental head or collet to one or both ends of the fastening device. The use of such a collet of the type contemplated by this invention eliminates the tedious and slow operation of manually securing ornamental heads or buttons to fastening devices, as a part of the tufting operation that has-heretofore been standard practice.

One form of tufting or fastening devices that may be used in the combination contemplated by this invention is shown in Fig. 7, is generally designated 2, and comprises a flexible body portion 3 of fibrous material and an attaching head or heads 4 usually consisting of fibrous material wrapped around a transversely extending metal core '5. A sheet metal button collet is generally designated 6 and as best illustrated in Figs. 4-7

1 consists of a collet portion 5 of general cylindrical and standard formation. A general embossed portion 8 is formed on the bottom of the collet, this embossed portion being slotted as at 9 and including a closed end l0 and an open end portion ii. A flexible spring stop i2 is formed and positioned adjacent the open end H of the embossed portion d.

It will be seen that the location of the embossed portion don the bottom of the collet and the general formation of the same is conducive to the quick and easy assembly of the head 4 of the fastening device into the collet. The spring member l2 permits entrance of the head 4 of the fastening device into the embossed portion of the collet and then resiliently holds the head in place after assembly. The collet 6 is adapted to receive to automatic assembly is illustrated in Fig.52

wherein a hopper chute I4 is positioned to successively feed the button collet 8 to an assembly station IS, the plane of the collet positioned at such station being at an angle. The heads 4 of the fastening devices 2 may be successively moved along the horizontally positioned guideway l6 by means of a suitable actuating member ii to a position adjacent the chute l4, at-which point the head 4 of the fastening device will be moved into assembly relation relative to the bead or pocket I of the collet by an assembly arm ll. The ar-' cuate and substantially horizontal movement of the head 4 of the fastening device towards the angularly positioned collet B will result in the end a of the head 4 striking the resilient keeper l2 and being automatically guided into the pocket 8. The assembled collet and fastening device may then be released bythe member I9 which selectively positions a new collet at the assembly sta- 5 tion. It will be understood that either the collet 8 or the completely formed button, with the base member I and the ornamental top It, may be fed through the chute I4.

In Fig. 1, I have diagrammatically illustrated a portion of a mattress or the like, in dotted lines, with the tufting or fastening devices 2 in correct tufting position. It will be seen here that the collet 8 may be assembled to the heads of the tufting device after the same has been inserted as through the-mattress, in the manner disclosed in my copending application No. 542,799; or a completely formed collet and ornamental button head l3 may be automatically secured to one end of the fastening device 2 before the tufting device is inserted through the mattress, and then the collet or metal device If subsequently applied at the other end if desired; or as shown at the extreme right in Fig. 1 a completely assembled ornamental button collet may be secured to the other end of the tufting device. It will be understood that in some cases, one side of the mattress, upholstery or the like does not require an ornamental head for the tufting device, in which, case the head 4 will be suflicient to carry out the tufting operation for that one side.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I have illustrated a modified embodiment wherein the ornamental head 20 is provided with a bifurcated collet 21. After assembly of the head 4 of the tufting or fastening device 2 within the bifurcations 22, such bifurcated portions 22 may be bent over to secure the head 4 permanently in position.

In Fig. 8, the same type of collet member 6 is utilized as described in connection with Figs. 4-7, 50 but here the fastening device 2 is shown as being sewed to a piece of fabric 23, such as a garment. In this case, the assembly of the collet to the head 4 oi the fastening device may be quick and easy, whether the assembly is automatic or manual. Furthermore, in this type of assembly, the member l2-is preferably so positioned or of such resiiience as to permit flexing of such member I 2 to permit removal of the collet and ornamental button, to thereby permit washing or cleaning of the fabric or garment 23. In Fig. 8, as in some of the other figures, it will be understood that the finished ornamental button will be a part of the collet, but for the purpose of clarity, I have shown arr'aeeo the collet without the oental button part be ing attached thereto.

' InFigs. 9-12, Ihave illustrated a med col- I let and fastening device, the essential diderence being that the resilient portion in the collet is in the two side walls 24 oi the embossed por- 1 tion 3'. The iastenlr'ig device adapted to be used.

with this collet may have'a body portion t sub: stantially the same as that shown in Fig. 7, but with attaching head 4' of such shape as'tocoM- plementally fit into the slot tamed by the side walls 24. Figs. 10, ii and i2 illustrate the steps of automatic assembly. 1 In Figs. 13, 14 and 15, I have illustrated modifications wherein a collet Zdwith a non-resilient apertured base is utilized. In this case, the fastening device still generally indicated 2 has an enlarged head 4 at one end and a shoestring body formation 23 at the other end with enlarged head 2'! slotted as at as. In this form the end 4 may be inserted through the aperture in the collot and the enlarged heads 2! drawn into position, theflngers formed by the slotting of the head resiliently holding-the attaching head 2? in position. Or the fastening device may be assembled as shown. in Fig. 15 wherein the slotted fingers may be squeezed and inserted through the opening in the collet.

In Figs. 16-18, I have shown a combined collet and attaching head wherein one end of the body of the fastening device may take'a shoe-string formation 28 which terminates in a head portion 23, the upper end of such head portion having'studs 30 extending laterally to form pivots for the collet as generally designated 3!. The collet Si is formed in two parts, an outer elongated leaf member 32 pivotally connected as at 33 to an inner elonga leaf member 34. In this modification, the leaf member 32 may be rotated so'as to be in alignment with the leaf member' and the-entire collet member then placed in a needle, such as shown in my copending application No. 542,799 and inserted through a. mattress or the like in the same manner as the head 4' of the fastening device shown in Fig. l.

An ornamental button or the like may be secured to the. collet after it has been-inserted through the mattress or the like.

In Fig. 19, I have illustrated a modified form of combined fastening device and collet wherein the collet consists at cross spring members 35 directly secured to the stem. 36 of the fastening deconnected as at 43 to a head member 39 securedto the end of the stem 40 of the fastening device. The relationship between the members 31, the

hinge 38 and the head 39 is such that the members 31. may be sprung down when the fastening device is inserted through the mattress or the like and 1 also when the attaching head is inserted through the aperture in a collet such as'shown at 25 in Fig. 15.

In Figs. 25, 26 and 27, I have illustrated a modiilcation somewhat'similar to the combined collet and fastening device shown in Fig. 16 and with the same flexible member 23 and attaching member 23 utilized, but the extra attaching member or collet consists of a sile mber 4i pivotally mounted aboutthe studs 33. The single member 4| takes approximately the same shape and operates in the same way as do members 82 and 34, when such members are positioned in alignment.

In Figs. 28-31, I have illustrated a modified form of collet and fastening device wherein the base portion 42 of the collet has a dished in portion 43 and a plurality of radially extending slots 43, the intersection of the slots forming an opening of less area than the enlarged head of the attaching'head 48. As best illustrated in Figs. 30 and 31, assembly of these two parts is had by forcing the head 45 against the prongs formed by the slots 44'; The head 45 will snap into position and will become permanently fixed to the collet. In Fig. 53, I have illustrated an assembly unit adapted to automatically assemble collets and fastening devices of the type illustrated in Figs. 28-31. The collets with or without the finished ornamental button portion 41 may be fed along a chute 43 into assembly position as shown; a fastening device 2 with the head 46 may be moved along a guideway 49 by the member 50. A pivotally mounted assembly arm 5| is adopted through the medium of the cam surfaces as shown to clamp the stem 46 of the attaching head and move the same under the positioned button and collet 41; subsequent vertical motion of the stem 48 will move the head 45 against the spring action of the resilient prongs in the collet to automatically force the attaching head into position. The attaching head 4 at the other end of the fastening device 2 may then be inserted in a suitable needle, forced through the mattress, upholstery and the like, where the head 4 may contact directly with the one side of the mattress or the like or may have a button collet such as shown in Fig. 7, attached thereto.

A further modified form of resilient button collet is illustrated in Figs. 32-35, wherein portions 52 and 53 are stamped out of the bottom portion of the collet, portions 52 being spaced into portions'53 by means of slots 54 and the edges of the portions 53 being serrated as at 55. The portions 52 and 53 are preferably arranged as shown in Fig. 34 so that when the head 4 of the fastening device is pushed in between the members 53 and into contact with the members 52, such head 4 will be resiliently held in position.

In Figs. 36-39, I have illustrated a further modification of the collet shown in Fig. 32 wherein the centrally positioned, stamped lugs 55 are longer and are turned up inwardly as at 56; and portions 51 being stamped out in the collet so as to permit entrance oi. the head .4. In this modi- 'flcation, the head 4 may be forced inwardly against the spring action of the turned up lips 56 of the lug members 55.

In Figs- 40-43, I have illustrated a further modification of .stamped'out collet button wherein resilient end lugs 58 are formed in the collet in addition to the side lugs 55a. The assembly 1 action here is similar to that shown in Fig. 39 except that the attaching head 4 of the fastening device is more securely held in assembled position.

In Figs. 44, 45 and 46, I have illustrated a further modification of stamped out collet wherein two parallel members 59 are stamped out from thebottom of the collet. These parallel portions 54 operate similarly to the button disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 in that the members 2! are adapted to be bent in and permanently grasp or enclose the end fastening device or the enlarged head 4 thereof, similar to the bent in members 22 of the button 20.

'I'he collet shown in Fig, 47 is similar to thatshown in Fig. 4 in that it is provided with slots which receive the metallic member 8|, the

end portions 62 of which protrude through the slots and clamp around the end or head I of the fastening device.

In Figs. 50 and 51, I have illustrated a modified form of spring collet, similar to that shown in Fig. 36 except that the spring lugs 55!) extend substantially the width of .the collet and the turned-up portions 561) are convex in contour.

It will thus be-seen that I have provided a button collet or a combined collet and attaching head, and various modifications thereof, which in combination with a peculiar form of fastening device and attaching head, makes for easy, quick and inexpensive assembly, which assembly may be automatic or manual and performed with the button and collet in its final form or before the button is assembled to the collet; in most cases, I have made use of resilient action so as to efiect a snap in function or to resiliently hold the attaching head in position, the spring action being either in the collet itself or in the attaching head.

What I claim is:

1. A combined fastening device and ornamental head therefor, including a completely preformed fastening device comprising a soft, flexible tapelike body and a relatively hard stifi attaching head, and an ornamental head having a bottom portion fabricated to receive the head of said fastening device by direct relative movement between said attaching head and ornamental head, one of said heads having a resilient portion adapted to be temporarily deflected during said relative movement.

2. A combined fastening device and ornamental head therefor, including a completely preformed fastening device comprising a soft, flexible tapelike body and a relatively hard, stiff elongated head fastened thereto, and an ornamental head having a bottom portion'fabrication to receive the head of said fastening device by direct relative movement between said attaching head and ornamental head, one of said heads having a resilient portion adapted to be temporarily deflected during said relative movement.

3. A combined fastening device and ornamental head therefor, including a completelypreformed fastening device comprising a soft, flexible tape-like body and a relatively stiff head fastenedthereto, and a preformed permanent ornaible tape-like body and a relatively hard stiff attaching head formed in part by an extension of said body material, and an ornamental head having a bottom portion fabricated to receive the head of said fastening device by direct relative movement between said attaching head and ornamental head, said attaching head having a resilient portion adapted to be temporarily deflected during said relative movement.

50a combined fastening device and ornamental head therefor, including a completely preformed;

fastening device comprising a' soft, flexible tapelike body and a relatively hard, stifl head at both ends, and an ornamental head having a bottom portion fabricated to receive one of the heads of saidfastening devices by direct relative movement between said attaching head and' ornamental head, one of said headshaving aresilient portion adapted to be temporarily deflected during said relative movement.

6. A tufting and fastening device comprising a soft flexible tape-like body and a relatively hard, stiff attaching head at one end and an elongated relatively stiff attaching head at the other end,

comprising a sheet metal bottom portion fabricated with an opening to directly receive and at least partially enclose one of said relatively stiff attaching heads, and-resilient means forming a part of said collet, and adapted to contact with and be temporarily deformed by the attachi tact with and be temporarily deformed by said collet during assembly therewith.

8. A completely preformed tuftingunit or the like, comprising an elongated soft, tape-like body of flexible material having a relatively stiff, hard tufting head permanently secured on each end thereof, said tufting head being shaped to cooperate with a tufting needle whereby either head may be threaded through the body of the article being tufted, an ornamental head such as a button or the like constructed so as to directly receive by relative movement one of said tufting heads before or after insertion of one of said tufting heads through the article being tufted, one of said heads having a resilient portion adapted to be temporarily deflected during said relative movement,

9. A tufting device for mattresses, cushions or the like, comprising a soft, flexible flat fabric member, a male member of hard material having a portion thereof fabricated for receiving one end of the flexible fabric member, said portion of the male member being crimped about said fabric member tosecurely fasten same together, another portion of said male member being formed to provide an enlarged head, a tufting button adaptedto be permanently attached to saidmalemember,said button having an annular dished bottom portion provided with an apertured portion centrally thereof, a plurality of spaced prongs adjacent said apertured portion and intermediate the circumference of the button andstruck integrally out of said button, said prongs being positioned to allow entrance of the enlarged head of the male member through the aperture in the bottom-and the ends of the prongs entrapping the male memher by springing into position below the enlarged head.

10. A completely preformed tufting device for tufting mattresses, cushions and the like, comprising a soft, tape-like body portion, a positioning member at one end and an ornamental button at the other end, said body member being rigidly and permanently connected to said positioning member and adapted to be threaded II through the body of the article being tufted, the end of said body member spaced from said positioning member being provided with a preformed relatively hard, stifl. head portion and said button and said portion being adapted to be assembled by direct relative movement whereby the button is held flat against a portion of the article being tuIted, a portion of one of said relatively movable members consisting of the head portion and button being in the form of a stud and a portion of the other member being fabricated to resiliently receive said stud and permanently hold the sa in position.

11. A tuiting device and the like comprising a flexible body, an attaching end portion, and a button collet comprising downwardly depending bendable members forming a part of the bottom of said collet and forming a slot-like opening receiving said attaching end portion, said downwardly depending members being bent to clamp said attaching end portion whereby said collet forms a permanent part of said tufting device and the like.

ANNETTE FRIDOLPH. 

